Leadership Courses: Leading in Times of Crisis

Andrews University Department of Leadership offers graduate level summer courses

During the summer semester 2020, the Andrews University Department of Leadership will be offering two graduate level summer courses from June 8–July 19. These six-week courses will be offered at both a Master’s level, “Seminar: Lead in Times of Crisis,” and a doctoral level, “Advanced Seminar: Lead in Times Crisis.” Individuals may register for 2–6 credits depending on their personal situation.

The Department of Leadership designed both levels of this course as an initiative designed to inspire and strengthen community leaders as they grapple with the impact of Covid-19.

Course Description

This course is intended to provide an overview of both theoretical and practical aspects of crisis leadership. Participants will learn to anticipate potential crises and develop methods to avoid or minimize damage. They will think critically about interpersonal and organization dynamics. They will learn to develop the ability to lead the organization out of a perilous situation by motivating and inspiring the employees. They will explore how leaders can prepare themselves and their organizations to successfully manage future crises. Throughout the course, a special attention will be given to the leaders’ integrity, resilience, courage, personal preparation, faith and spirituality as they face perilous crises. Crises have been frequently perceived as threats, but they can provide opportunities as well.

Objectives

This course will enable participants to:

• Anticipate and Prepare for Crises
  • Have an overview of the theoretical and practical aspects of organizational crises, and prepare them to lead effectively when they face crisis situations.
  • Recognize and enumerate the nature of crises and categories of crises, including natural disasters, economic recessions, terrorist threats, wars, violence in the workplace, ethical mishaps, ideological disputes, social or political unrest, public health emergencies, technological perils, legal challenges, facilities deficiencies, etc.
  • Anticipate potential crises and develop methods to avoid or minimize damage.
  • Recognize the elements and characteristics of an emerging crisis, develop an appropriate response, and adapt it to new and changing situations. Articulate how successful leaders predict, prepare for, recognize and mitigate organizational crises.
  • Realize the necessity to form a crisis management team and develop a plan before the occurrence of the crisis.
  • Strengthen personal and group spiritual and ethical to handle crises. Realize the importance of the leader’s integrity, resilience, courage, personal preparation on the potential outcomes of the crisis.
• Respond to Crises
  • Activating the crises team. Understand the role of leaders, executive teams and organizational dynamics in responding to crisis.
  • Organizing innovative teams in times of crises.
  • Differentiate the types of leadership models and management styles to employ in a high stress emergency environment.
  • Understand the impact of crises on the community and the role of the community and the importance of enlisting the support of local businesses, community organizations and public officials for the successful resolution of crises.
  • Explore techniques for solving problems in high-pressure situations characterized by complex decision environment, triaging values, time-pressure, high stakes, unanticipated events and information overload.
  • Understand the roles of effective crisis communication and legal counsel.
• Follow-up to Crises (post-crisis management)
  • Re-establishing routines (or why we never can get back to normal)
  • Emotional and psychological healing
  • Re-establishing bonds of trust and structures of expectations

Most of the coursework will be done through LearningHub. There will be, however, several synchronous weekly sessions via Zoom with several frontline leaders who will be interviewed about their direct experiences with important recent crises. Class participants will be individually informed of their specific required assignments based on their number of credits and their professional interests.

For more information, interested participants may contact the Department of Leadership at leader@andrews.edu. To register for the course, visit vault.andrews.edu/schedule/ and look under “College of Education & International Services, Leadership Department.” The course is listed as follows:

• Master’s level: LEAD-689-999 (994) Seminar: Lead in Times of Crisis
• Doctoral level: LEAD-789-999 (995) Adv Seminar: Lead in Times Crisis